A look into Project Looking Glass

BANGALORE: Hideya Kawahara, an engineer with Sun Microsystems took the moribund task of developing a 3D-desktop interface some 16 months ago. His efforts seem to have payed off and the project code-named 'Looking Glass,' Sun's next-generation 3D desktop interface is being projected as a 'Living Billboard' at this year's JavaOne Conference in San Francisco.

Primarily written in Java and intended for Linux and Solaris x86 PCs has caught the attention of the Linux community. According to Kawahara he chose Java as a platform to prove the power of the language to its critics and aims to make the Linux desktop more attractive with his project.

Sun calls it as a 'revolutionary evolution of today's desktop,' with features like translucent Windows, options that could allow you to tack a note about yourself while viewing a Web site and other 3D windowing capabilities for a richer user experience.

Project Looking Glass is being created to work with Solaris and Linux desktop environments using Java technology. Applications designed for 2D-window system will be able to operate on this desktop without any modifications.

Currently there is no SDK available for the product however developers can join its mailing list to stay updated with its progress. The company plans to release the SDK sometime in mid-2004 that will enable developers to implement their own 3D desktops.

For more information